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Fin for Salesforce Cases: How is data synced?

Understand how data is pulled from and pushed back to Salesforce when using the Salesforce Cases channel.

Diagram showing Contact, Case, and Account fields being pulled from Salesforce into the Fin platform.

This article explains how data flows between Fin and Salesforce Cases. It covers what fields Fin pulls from Salesforce, how those fields map to Fin's data objects, what data Fin automatically writes back to Salesforce cases, and how to configure your Fin workflow to populate additional Salesforce fields. Use this article after setting up Fin for Salesforce Cases to understand and configure data sync.

Note: You'll need admin access in both Fin and Salesforce to manage field sync settings.

What fields does Fin pull from Salesforce?

When you deploy Fin for Salesforce cases, Fin will pull all of your Contact, Case, and Account fields from Salesforce.

Screenshot of the Fin for Salesforce Cases field management interface showing the list of synced Contact, Case, and Account fields.

These synced Contact, Case, and Account fields are available when building your Fin workflow for Salesforce Cases. You can use them to create branches (so certain customers are handled differently) or to set data on your Salesforce fields.

Fin keeps these fields in sync by checking for updates when it's first assigned to a case. Note: if Salesforce data changes after Fin has been assigned to the case, those changes will not be picked up mid-session — Fin will pull the latest values the next time it is assigned to a case.

Screenshot showing a system field (such as ID or Name) in the Fin platform with a lock icon, indicating it is required and cannot be removed.

System fields

System fields such as ID and Name will always be synced and cannot be removed from the Fin platform as they're required.

Screenshot showing a custom Salesforce field in the Fin platform with an option to remove it, indicating it is not required and can be deleted from the Fin platform.

Custom fields

Custom fields that you've created in Salesforce can be removed from the Fin platform if you don't need them.

Screenshot showing the '+' button in the Fin field management interface used to sync additional fields from Salesforce into the Fin platform.

Syncing new fields

You can sync new fields from Salesforce using the "+" button.

Images and attachments

Fin syncs both inline images and attachments from Salesforce cases, giving it full context when reading and responding to cases. This is supported across:

  • FeedItems

  • EmailMessages

  • FeedComments

FeedItems are posts on a Salesforce case's Chatter feed, such as status updates and comments. EmailMessages are inbound and outbound emails linked to the case. FeedComments are replies to Chatter feed posts.

Manually re-sync Salesforce data

In addition to the automatic sync that occurs when Fin is first assigned to a case, you can manually trigger a re-sync for list fields with multiple options:

  1. Scroll down to the Pull data from Salesforce section.

  2. Select a list field and then click Re-sync.

Screenshot of Fin Settings > Salesforce data showing the Pull data from Salesforce section with a Re-sync button displayed next to a list field.

Note: The Re-sync button only appears for list fields with multiple options (such as picklists and multi-selects). If you don't see it, the field type doesn't support manual re-sync — Fin will pull the latest values automatically the next time it's assigned to a case.

How Salesforce fields map to Fin's attributes

Fin has its own data system with similar objects to those in Salesforce.

Salesforce Contact fields = Fin People data

Salesforce Contact fields are synced into Fin as People data

Screenshot of the Fin Settings > People data page showing Contact fields synced from Salesforce, each identified by the Salesforce cloud icon.

You can manage them by going to: Settings > People data.

Fields that are synced from Salesforce are indicated via the Salesforce cloud icon.

Within the People data settings page, you'll notice that there's other attributes as well as those that you've synced in from Salesforce. These are default attributes that Fin collects from your users and can be passed back into Salesforce, if you choose (see "Push" section below). You can also create new people attributes within the Fin platform.

Salesforce Case fields = Fin Conversation data

Salesforce Case fields are synced into Fin as Conversation data

Screenshot of the Fin Settings > Conversation data page showing Case fields synced from Salesforce, each identified by the Salesforce cloud icon.

You can manage them by going to Settings > Conversation data.

Fields that are synced from Salesforce are indicated via the Salesforce cloud icon.

In the Conversation data settings page, you can also create new attributes within the Fin platform. These can be passed back into Salesforce, if you choose (see "Push" section below).


Diagram showing Fin pushing data back to Salesforce cases during each sync and when escalating to a team.

What data does Fin push back to Salesforce?

Fin updates cases with data each time it responds or when it needs to escalate to your team because it can't provide an answer.

What data does Fin push to the Salesforce Case object?

Fields

Pushed when?

Value

FinInvolved

Each case sync

True (default: false)

FinResolutionState

Each case sync

Soft Resolution / Hard Resolution / Abandoned / Routed to team

OwnerId

As part of hand-off

Configured by step. Salesforce User or Queue Id.

FinResolutionState values:

  • Soft Resolution — Fin provided an answer and the conversation ended without further escalation

  • Hard Resolution — the customer explicitly confirmed their issue was resolved

  • Abandoned — the customer left the conversation or did not respond

  • Routed to team — Fin escalated the case to a human teammate because it could not resolve the query

Populate additional data

You can also populate case fields by using Set data, Collect data and Fin Attributes steps in Workflows.


Handing off to your team when Fin can't answer

When Fin can't answer, you can use "Hand-off to team in Salesforce" in your workflow. This enables Fin to re-assign the case to your selected owner in Salesforce.

Screenshot of the Fin workflow editor showing the Add step panel with the 'Hand-off to team in Salesforce' option visible.

Hit "Add step", and select "Hand-off to team in Salesforce".

Screenshot of the Fin workflow editor showing the expanded hand-off drawer with options to select a Salesforce Queue or User as the case owner.

To select an owner for the case, first click to expand the drawer. Then pick a Queue or User in Salesforce who should own the case.


How to populate Salesforce fields using workflows

In addition to the data Fin automatically pushes to Salesforce (FinInvolved, FinResolutionState, OwnerId), you can populate any additional Salesforce case fields using the Set data, Collect data, and Fin Attributes steps in your Fin workflow.

Setting data manually

The Set data step lets you manually set a Salesforce field value in your Fin workflow for Salesforce Cases. It's most useful on workflow branches where you know what a value should be based on the path a customer took.

Screenshot of the Fin workflow editor showing the step picker with the 'Set data' option highlighted.

  • Go to the workflow for your channel

  • Hit "Add step" at the right part of the workflow

  • Select the "Set data" option

Screenshot of the Fin workflow editor showing the Set data step configuration panel with a field selector. Salesforce-synced fields are identified by the Salesforce cloud icon.

  • Pick the field that you like to populate – the fields that you synced from Salesforce can be identified by the Salesforce cloud icon

  • The data you set will be pushed to Salesforce when a case is created or the chat is handed off to a Salesforce agent

Collecting data from the customer

Using "Collect data" allows you to ask the customer to enter the information via a form in the Fin Messenger.

Screenshot of the Fin workflow editor showing the Add step panel open in the workflow for a Salesforce Cases channel.

  • Go to the workflow for your channel

  • Hit "Add step" at the right part of the workflow

Screenshot of the Fin workflow editor showing the step picker with the 'Collect data' option highlighted.

  • Select the "Collect data" option

Screenshot of the Fin workflow editor showing the Collect data step configuration panel with a field selector. Salesforce-synced fields are identified by the Salesforce cloud icon.

  • Pick the field that you'd like the customer like to populate – the fields that you synced from Salesforce can be identified by the Salesforce cloud icon

  • The data you set will be pushed to Salesforce when a case is created or the chat is handed off to a Salesforce agent

Using Fin Attributes detection to populate data

The Fin Attributes step lets Fin automatically detect and populate list fields (such as picklists and multi-selects) in Salesforce Cases. This option is only available for list fields — for text, number, or date fields, use Set data or Collect data instead.

Screenshot of Fin Settings > Data > Salesforce data showing a list field expanded with a description text field for each list value, where descriptions help Fin auto-detect the correct value.

To do this, you'll need to enter a description for each list item, so Fin knows which one to select. You can do this by going to:

  • Settings > Data > Salesforce data

  • Click the (list) field that you'd like Fin to populate and enter descriptions

Screenshot of the Fin workflow editor showing the step picker with the 'Fin Attribute' option highlighted.

Now to trigger the Fin Attribute detection:

  • Go to the workflow for your channel

  • Hit "Add step" at the right part of the workflow

  • Select "Fin Attribute"

Screenshot of the Fin workflow editor showing the Fin Attribute step configuration panel with a field selector for choosing which list field Fin should auto-populate.
Screenshot of the Fin workflow editor showing the completed Fin Attribute step with a selected list field and its values, each with descriptions entered.

Now select the list field that you'd like Fin to populate. You must have already added descriptions to each list value in Settings > Data > Salesforce data before Fin can auto-detect the correct value.

Your case fields will be populated in Salesforce

Whichever method you chose to populate your case fields (setting data, collecting data, or Fin Attributes), once set up, you'll see that Fin enters values on your Salesforce cases.

Screenshot of a Salesforce case record showing the FinInvolved, FinResolutionState, and other fields populated by Fin after the conversation.

Note: You might need to hit Edit in the top right to see these fields unless you've adjusted your default case layout to display them.


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